Calling someone a “basket case” is far darker than you think. Slang 101

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Handpicked from our Blog for you• Jul 17, 2026

Which one do you use? Calling someone a “basket case” is far darker than you think. Slang 101 3 min. A lot of slang terms and everyday words have surprisingly rich backstories tied to real historical events and practices. From dire situations to the flicker of oil lamps, these expressions once described literal experiences before turning into figures of speech. You probably use quite a few of these, but did you know what they really mean? Read full article

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